Steady Eddie realises his vision
Huntly’s Eddie Berryman aims to safeguard natural water springs around Te Kauri Marae to help filter water and restore the surrounding wetlands, ultimately helping to clean up the Waikato River.
Eddie Berryman has been steadily realising his ambitious project since his first application for funding from the Waikato River Authority in 2016.
The 68-year-old farmer was “very grateful” to have two projects with $134,000 approved in the Waikato River Authority 2023 funding round to build on the work he has completed around his cherished marae.
He was among 30 successful applicants who received $5.9 million in total funding to restore the Waikato and Waipā Rivers, announced today. (Wednesday, 18/10/23)
Eddie has restored five whānau puna (springs) and those of neighbouring properties by fencing them off to protect them from animals and planting native plants around them, which work as a natural filter for the water that flows into Lake Waahi.
His latest projects attempt to improve a headwater gully or puna system and downstream watercourse that flows into a recently retired 6.5ha wetland area on a Waikato Tainui-owned farm that Te Kauri Marae leases upstream of Lake Okowhao.
“This is where the cleaning of the water happens in the swamps, so if we restore the wetlands, the water going to the Lake, then the river will be cleaner than it’s ever been.”
As an added benefit, he hopes to transform the waterway into a “secret” watercress patch for Te Kauri Marae.
“Everything we do on this farm is for the marae, and we’re trying to make it self-sustaining. At the moment, we provide meat to tangihanga and sell stock, with all proceeds going back to the marae.“
Waikato River Authority Co-Chair Stu Kneebone said he was impressed by the wide range of successful projects, from the $1.2m awarded to Puniu River Care, which is focused on improving biodiversity and water quality in the Puniu and Waipā Rivers, to the smaller applications like Eddie Berryman, who is restoring natural puna.
“We’re proud of every project, which number 449 and $72 million of funding invested since the Authority’s establishment, which is collectively making a difference in restoring our waterways.”
